JACKSON & JOSEPHINE COUNTIES, Ore. (July 22, 2024) – Firefighters are completing the last portions of mop-up operations on two of the 17 lightning-caused fires that were found on Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land within the last week, following numerous rounds of thunderstorms that moved through southern Oregon. Between July 15 and 22, five fires were reported on the ODF Medford Unit and 12 were reported on the Grants Pass Unit, all as a result of lightning. At this time, all are 100% contained but two, which are nearly mopped up.
Thunderstorms first materialized on the evening of Monday, July 15, with a total of 66 lightning strikes recorded across the district. From this storm, firefighters responded to 13 fires, along with numerous other reports of smoke or fire that were not found to be present. Of these 13 fires, the largest, the Waters Gulch Fire, was stopped at just two acres. The next storm system arrived late Saturday night on July 20, with 18 recorded lightning strikes across both Jackson and Josephine Counties. Four fires were reported, two in each unit. This storm arrived with little to no rain, which allowed for more natural fire growth. Despite this, the largest fire from this group, the Sugarpine Gulch Fire, was caught at just over seven acres. Today, it is 100% lined and 100% mopped up.
These results are largely due to the aggressive initial attack that took place on each fire, as well as partnerships with local agencies, ranging from local structural departments to our federal partners at the BLM and U.S. Forest Service Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest; the preparation of all agencies and the readiness to respond to new fire starts is largely contributed to the success on the ground.
Resources and equipment were also strategically used from the Salt Creek Fire, which was caught and lined at just over 4,100 acres and nearly entirely mopped up within the week and a half that the Oregon Department of Forestry Incident Management Team 1 was in command of it. As progress was quickly made on this incident, resources were available to respond to new fire starts and staff lightning-caused fires, even as the Salt Creek Fire transitioned to local control once more. Despite this pull on resources throughout its duration, the Salt Creek Fire is now 100% contained.
See the list of lightning-caused fires by date, name, location, size and current status: https://swofire.com/2024/07/22/salt-creek-fire-100-contained-17-lightning-caused-fires-all-stopped-at-under-10-acres-in-a-week/purple-and-white…able-a4-document/
- The ODF Southwest Oregon District: https://swofire.com/
- The BLM OR/WA Fire Management Page: https://www.blm.gov/orwafire
- Follow ODF and BLM on Facebook
- Follow ODF and BLM, RRSNFon Twitter
BLM-managed lands in the area of the Salt Creek Fire remain closd for safety. For more info go to: https://www.blm.gov/orwafire